April 2012

Just got classified to minimum security.  Very thankful for that.  Also thankful to know the Bakers from Ripley.  I always knew Bobby and JB were famous around here.  Love you all.

Today’s tune is the song about David and Goliath by Take 6.  It’s a good one.

I don’t know when Porter & I slept.  As kids during the week of MDCM, we were always up late, talking & planning.  We got up with the sun to catch catfish & brim.  And then we played all afternoon.  Did we sleep during the church services? I don’t see us getting away with that.

Psalms 20.  That’s where my heart is today.

People of the free world, don’t ever take peace & quiet, or sleep for granted.  Not ever!

At some point everyone should take some time & look on YouTube for the Jimmy V speech.  It won’t be hard to find, but it will be hard to beat.

I remember being at Darrell & Pam’s a few Christmases ago.  A few of us teared up after taking a bite of pecan pie.  It was very good.  But, it wasn’t warm and it wasn’t Granny’s and it never will be.  It’s a good memory though.

Today, I just have sadness.  A sick-to-my-stomach feeling like I could cry at any moment.  Oh how I do NOT wish to be in this place.  I think of home, of family & friends.  My heart just aches.  This is not a place to show sadness.  To show tears.  I have always been a sensitive soul.  Even during Bible studies sometime.  I have to hold back tears as to not show weakness.  Can I pray for God to harden my heart? That would change my whole being.  Lord, give me strength.

The Winter of Our Discontent was a very good read.  Never read Steinbeck before.  Looking forward to more. 

If you want to do something difficult, sit down and try to write all 50 states in alphabetical order.  I got 42.  It took me about 3 weeks to get all 50.  It’s not that easy.  At least it wasn’t for me.

The look on Brittany’s face when she found out that the delicious fried chicken Aunt Loretta had prepared for dinner was actually rabbit……still hilarious.  And I still love fried rabbit!

I wish I was going with Momma to Texas on her spring break.  It would be a fun trip.

It’s time to be on the golf course.  On a day like today, we would have left bright and early to go to the Tennessean.  Buddy, Rivera, Jimbo, or ? &…..  I would have beaten them all!!

The mind is a strange thing.  It’s funny how many thoughts can be re-lived in just a matter of seconds.  Memories. Solutions. Dreams.  Fears.  All in a fraction of time.  Especially if you aren’t close to a pen & paper.

I laid in bed last night wondering what the star configuration is on the American flag.  I suppose it is 5 rows of 6 and 4 rows of 5.  With 7 red stripes & 6 white. I could be wrong.  But that’s what I do.  Also, it is exactly 22 laps for a mile if you walk 2’ away from the wall of the upper deck. EXACTLY 22 LAPS!!! Bored!!!!!

Lot’s wife looked back & turned into a pillar of salt.  I think it’s important to not look too far into the future, but keep your eyes AHEAD. You have to look ahead.

Spin Doctors “Refrigerator Car” is the song I need today.  It gets the blood pumping.

It was good to see Momma & Daddy today.  Just to chat.  No tears.  Almost normal. I wish I could see them every time I needed to or wanted to.  Wish I could see everyone.

The first time Cameron was pregnant, she was HUGE!! And felt bad about it.  So I went by for a visit.  I walked in & immediately started snapping pictures.  She was furious.  So funny!!!

Wonder what God would think if I prayed for a time machine.

I know these are random spacey thoughts.  I’ve been praying that they be for a purpose.  Maybe just so Momma will know what’s on my mind, but maybe something more.  Feel free to take them & run.

Not getting to watch the NCAA tournament is a punishment I didn’t see coming.

Have you ever Googled ‘silo home’ or ‘underground home’?  They’re pretty neat.  There’s one underground house that the center is like a greenhouse.  Wonder how cheap a silo home would be?

**Correction to a previous post**  “Cannonball” Counting Crows – the album you need is Across a Live Wire to get the guitar intro.  Beneroyal Hall is Pearl Jam.

I’ve just finished reading Job.  It reminded me of something someone told me a while back.  If you ever think “Why Me?”  Ask yourself “Then Who?”  If you’re going thru a difficult time, a trying time, who of your friends & family would you have take your place?  Which loved one would you rather it be?  I’m glad none of my brothers are in prison.  I’m glad my friends are at home.

Nathan is 11 today.  Sure am gonna miss seeing him grow up.  I hope he follows the right path & stays out of the traps of the world. 

I should be dead.  Several times over.  But I am alive.  I am searching for the reason.  I have accepted the fact that there is a reason.  I’m just anxious to find it.

All my life, part of me, for no reason, always thought I was a little better than most.  I was a sorta snob.  But at the same time, I felt I never was good enough.  Now that is confusing.

The fall of ’94 I lived with my grandparents so I could start to school & play basketball.  It seemed like the work never ended.  Cutting wood…. bailing hay…. constant labor….  on top of basketball practice & homework.  But looking back on it, it didn’t hurt me a bit.  As a matter of fact, I wish I had spent more time there.

I am one of 31 first cousins.  That includes both sides of the family.  On both my father’s side (13 kids) & my mother’s side (6 kids) all of them have given me first cousins except for the oldest (Ted & Franky) and the youngest (Ronda and David).  Pretty neat!  I have A LOT  of second cousins.  Not sure how many.

Today’s inspiration comes from Michael Buble`.  The live album from Madison Square Garden features a song with Natural 7 called “Stardust”.  Good stuff.  Very chill.

I like getting mail.

Finally had burgers for lunch today.  Fries too.  It wasn’t Bells or Sonic, but much better than what we’ve been having lately.  Where’s the milkshake though?

Music.  I don’t know what it is about it exactly that draws me.  Moves me.  Many times I have tried to explain its meaning, or affects on me.  It always falls on deaf ears it seems.  I remember trying to get Sara Johnson to realize how perfect Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Little Wing” was.  I remember explaining to Traci Daniel why James Taylor was timeless.  I remember trying to get Roy & Mark to see how Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds’s acoustic version of “Sister” could be easily changed to “Brother” & sometimes bring a tear to my eye.  Many many times I’ve tried to get people to have my love for music.  Sometimes it’s a lyric that catches my attention like James Taylor’s “Secret O’ Life”.  Often it’s a certain sound or rhythm or harmony in a song like Vince Gill’s “No Future In the Past”.  Very often it’s just the feel.  Just the feeling it creates in me.  This is usually captured in a certain version (usually live, acoustic/unplugged). For instance, Pearl Jam’s “Crazy Mary” from the live at Beneroyal Hall album or Eric Clapton’s “Runnin on Faith” on his Unplugged record.  I put songs on here, well because they constantly are on my mind.  I hope you have a chance to hear some of them if you haven’t already.  I can gladly give you the Wes Cole music experience, hopefully in 6-8 years.  In the meantime, don’t allow music to just be background noise.  Let it in. Let it move you.  Crank it up!

Nicotine. Alcohol. Opiates.  Today I want you all.  Get out of my thoughts!

During a family trip to visit the Georgia Cole’s someone had the bright idea that we should go ice-skating.  Let me start by saying, “I CAN’T SKATE!”  Never figured it out.  I always felt I should be allowed to take my skateboard to the roller rink.  Anyways….

I believe, not surprisingly, I was skating quite wobbly beside Corrie when these 2 or 3 cute girls skated toward us.  I saw them coming & knew I needed to look cooler and much less shaky.  Turning my cap around backwards, I lost my balance and landed flat on my back right as they came by.  My hat scurried away on the ice.  I crawled after it on hands & knees with audible groans known by all who have had the wind knocked violently from the lungs.  I continued crawling until I was safely on the carpet.  That is my ice skating story.

When Daryl McCaskill is in the bed, the games are over.  And you better believe the rule will be enforced.

Allergies – allergy meds = Not cool.

Looking forward to a visit tomorrow.  Hopefully get a hug or two.

I think door banging and incoherent rapping is going to haunt me more than pointless, constant whistling. 

I once set up two friends on a blind date.  We went to Monday Nitro wrestling.  Looking back, that was pretty funny/redneck.

I want Momma’s French toast, with some thick slab bacon, cold milk, and black coffee.  Can’t wait.

I figure the best way to pass the time is to think about food.  JK.  But some of my bar-b-Que with some of my beans and some of my sauce sure would be good.

My greens recipe:  2 bunches each of mustard, turnip, and collard greens.  1 small ham hock, 1 box of chicken broth, 6 garlic cloves, water 6 strips of bacon or jowl.  Empty chicken stock into a big pot.  Refill the box with water and add to pot with garlic and ham hock.  Medium high heat to a slow boil.  Clean greens and remove any large veins (especially in the collards) and tear or chop into finger size pieces.  Add to the water/stock a little at a time stirring so they wilt down.  Cook for 1-3 hours on low heat.  Half-way through cooking add the bacon or jowl.  Serve with pepper vinegar.  Lastly, slap somebody.  They’re that good!

I may throw a random recipe in here every so often.  I always loved to cook.  And I took pride in people trying my food.  I think I went to the Paula/Sandra  school.  Meaning, maybe not the healthiest & maybe not 100% homemade, but surely edible & pleasant.  And if you don’t eat bad all the time, taking some time to prepare something “good” won’t kill you as long as you enjoy it.

This one time it seemed as if I had shown the entire state of Texas what BBQ was supposed to be.  And I wasn’t lying.